Oscillator for electric machines.



No. 783,495. PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905. E. 0. WRIGHT.

OSCILLATOR FOR ELECTRIC MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26. 1902.

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Patented February 28, 1905.,

PATENT OFFICE.

KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE TION or OHIO.

OSCILLATOR FOR ELECTRIC MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,495, dated February 28, 1905.

Application filed May 26, 1902. SerialNo. 109.087.

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Be it known that l, EDWIN O. W RIGHT, a citizen of the United States, and a residentof Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Oscillators for Electric Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of my specification.

M y invention relates to a mechanism for oscillating a shaft or combination of shafts backward and forward in their bearings in the direction of their length, and it is especially adapted for use in rotary converters and motor-generator sets or for any shaft which runs in bearings without a belt or some other means of that nature for giving it such an oscillating motion. This oscillating motion is necessary in order to keep the bearings in smooth running condition and also to make the commutators wear evenly, because in the absence of such oscillation or end motion the brushes will cut grooves in the commutators, and any dirt which may collect in the bearings will cut grooves in the shafts and the bearing-bushings. The use of such an oscillating device therefore increases the life of the bearings, commutators, and brushes in that it causes them to wear evenly throughout their length instead of at any particular point.

The object of my invention is to provide a shaftoscillator of this character which may be applied to any shaft capable of end play, and its advantages will appear more fully as I proceed with my description.

In the drawing the figure is a sectional elevation showing my improved oscillator attached to the housing inclosing the bushing which supports the end of a shaft.

A is ahousing at the end of a shaft B, supported in a bushing B in the usual manner.

O is an electromagnet-shell which projects into the housing and which is secured to the same by means of the lugs O in any conven ient manner. The magnet-shell O is provided with an inner core O, upon which is wound a coil of wire D. Secured to the magnetshell in any suitable manner, but insulated therefrom, is a metallic socket K, containing a carbon L and provided with a binding-post /r. A swinging arm G is pivoted at its upper end in a lug N on the end of the magnet-shell O and is provided at its lower end with a socket K, which is insulated from it and contains a carbon L. This socket is also provided with a binding-post Zr.

A steel pin E is secured in the end of the shaftB and is adapted to engage a sliding pin E, which is mounted in ahole passing through the center of the magnet-core C". At its opposite end the pin F is adapted to engage a set-screw F in the swinging arm Gr.

When the electric circuit is closed, as shown in the drawing, its path is as follows: through the conductor E, coil D, and the conductor R to the binding-post k, thence through the socket K, the carbons L L, and socket K to the binding-post Zr, whence it passes back to the source of supply. I

The operation of my oscillator is as follows: When the parts are in the position shown in the drawings, with the shaft away from the end of the electromagnet and the electric circuit closed, the coil D is energized and the magnet draws the shaft toward it. As it does so the pin E engages the pin E, which strikes the end of the screw F and causes the arm G to swing outward, thereby moving the carbon L away from the carbon L and breaking the circuit. The shaft then naturally swings away from the magnet until the arm Or, by means of its weight, swings back so as to bring the carbons in contact, which again makes the circuit through the magnet-coils and energizes the magnet, which pulls the shaft toward it, as before. An oscillation of the shaft is thereby produced. It has been found that when so started to oscillate a shaft has a certain frequency of oscillation, like a pendulum, so that very little effort on the part of the magnet is necessary to continue this motion after it is once started. Herein lies one of the particular advantages of my oscillator. Each shaft being provided with an electromagnet and with a mechanism for making and breaking the circuit supplying the magnet-coil which is operated by the motion of the shaft itself, each shaft receives the impetus or pull of the electromagnet at just the proper instant, so that comparatively little magnetic pull will maintain the oscillation of the shaft.

1 have above set forth the preferred construction of my improved shaftoscillator; but I do not wish to limit myself to this construction, as it will be apparent that the parts may be arranged in different ways so as to produce the desired result in substantially the same way as described; but

What I claim as new, and what I desire to cover by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination, a shaft capable of end play provided with a pin rigidly secured at its end, a housing surrounding said shaft, an electromagnet secured to said housing, an electric circuit supplying current to the coil of the same, a swinging arm pivoted to the end of said magnet and provided with a setscrew, a slidable rod located in the core of Said electromagnet and engaging said setscrew and the pin in said shaft at its opposite ends, and electrodes in said electric circuit, one of which is fixed and the other of which is secured to, but insulated from said swinging arm, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In an electrical machine of the class described, a shaft capable of end play, an electromagnet rigidly secured adjacent the end thereof, an electric circuit su 'iplying current to the coil of said magnet, a swinging arm pivoted to the end of said magnet, a set-screw in said arm, a slidable rod located in the core of said magnet adapted to be operated by said shaft and to engage said set-screw, and electrodes in said electric circuit, one of which is fixed and the other of which is secured to said swinging arm, substantially in the manner described.

3. In combination, a shaft capable of end play provided with a pin rigidly secured at its end, a fixed electromagnet adjacent the end of said shaft, an electric circuit supplying current to the coil of said magnet, a swinging arm pivoted to the end of said magnet and provided with a set-screw, a slidable rod located in the line of said pin and said set-screw, adapted to engage the same at its opposite ends, and electrodes in said electric circuit, one of which is fixed, and the other of which is secured to said swinging arm, substantially as described.

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